Signal device



March 11, 1930. w. G. KEITH SIGNAL DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 16, 1926 I Patented Mar. 11, 1930 WILLIAM G. KEITH, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR TO WELS I BACH TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMPANY, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE SIGNAL DEVICE Original application filed October 16, 1926, Serial 11o.

- 1928. Serial This invention relates to signal devices and has special reference to a new and novel construction for electrically operated and controlled signal devices.

More particularly this invention relates to. an electric signal device comprislng an improved signal head, having an adjustable support for a parabolic reflector, the latter aving a face plate with characters perforated therethrough on the front face thereof whereby the rays of light from the illuminating means are evenly distributed to all the charactersr It is particularly desirable insignal devices 5 of the above mentioned type, to rovide a construction which will be artistlc in appearance, simple in construction, and noncomplicated and effective in operation. The present invention, in conforming to these requisites, provides that the operatlng mechanism be concealed in a container below the ground level in order that the above-ground construction may be simple and artistic in appearance. Also, itis well lmown that a periodic lighting or flashing is much more effective in attracting attention than a fixed light, and therefore this device is preferably operated by a timed electrical switch, of the tiltable fluid contact-making and breaking 80 type, which is mounted in a novel and simple manner.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and novel constructlon for signal devices. I

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved signal head or lamp casing for a construction as hereinbefore mentioned in which the light is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the head or casing.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved face plate for a device as indicated above, in which the characters are provided by means of perforating said plate and in so outlining the perforations as to make the characters more pronounced dur- 142,012. Divided and this application filed July 31, No. 288,517.

ing ithe flashing periods of either day or Further objects and advantages will be ap parent from the description and drawings forming a part of this specification to which reference may now be had for a more complete understandin of the characteristic features of this inventlon, in which drawings t Figure l'is a side elevational view of the construction of the signal head of the present invention as supported on a standard;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partially in section, of the signal head.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the device showing in detail the signal head and its connection with the standard; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. '2. i Referring more particularly-to the drawlngs, the signal device includes a signal head 10 adjustably mounted on a standard 11, which latter is mounted on a container 12.

The signal head 10 com rises a reflector shell 13, substantially para olic in contour, having an L-shaped flanged portion 14 extending therefrom. A glass disc. 15 rests in said L-shaped portion 14 and is cushioned therefrom by means of a U-shaped gasket 16, preferably of felt and over-lapping the peripheral edge of said glass disc. Thedisc is held securely in position in said flanged portion by means of a U-shaped metal clamping ring 17. A metal face plate 18 is provided on the outer side of the glass disc 15 and is secured to the ring 17 by means of brackets 19 which are welded, or otherwise suitably fixed, to said ring 17 and bolts 20, the latter extending through said plate andin threaded engagement with said brackets.

The face plate 18 is provided with a central 0 ening 21 through which a lens 22 projects.

is lens, usually of a red color, is cemented or fixed in some suitable manner within an aperture in the glass disc 15 and is for the purpose of changing the direction of light rays issuing from the signal head which intensifies or magnifies such light and acts as a warning of danger. The plate also contains a group of letters or characters 23 which are perforated therein, thereby allowing light rays to pass through said perforation thus bringing the characters to view.

It has been found very desirable to outline the character with a substantially heavy white line 24, and to enamel, paint, or in any suitable manner darken the remainder of the background of the plate. It will be apparent from this construction that during t e daytime, the perforated portions w1ll appear darkened when the lamp is not lighted and the white line will aid greatly in distinguishing the characters. If it were not for this white line there would be no break between the darkened background and the darkened perforations of the characters, and consequently the characters would be practically non-distinguishable. During the night-time, the white line serves to aid in distinguishing the characters, and moreover, enlarges the characters by means of absorbing li ht from the lamp when lighted. If the w ite line were omitted from the periphery of the char acters, these latter would appear hazy and indistinct, due to the dissipation of light adjacent the edges of the perforations. However, if this dissipated light be absorbed by awhite line, a definite outline is produced which aids materially in distinguishing characters.

The reflector shell 13 is given a contour of a substantially parabolic character for the purpose of evenly distributing the light on the face plate 15 and in order to t1lt the signal head to conform with the grade of the street, the shell is fixed to abracket 25 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 26 in a yoke 27. The signal head 10 is then held in the desired position by means of screws 28 in threaded engagement with saidvyoke 27 and which screws extend therethrough to bear against one surface of said bracket member 25. These screws must, however, be positioned one on each side of a line extending vertically from the center of the pin 26. The yoke 27 is mounted on a projectin portion 29 of the standard 11 and is fixed t ereto by means of a set screw 30.

A lamp 31 is positioned in the reflector shell 13 and is slidably mounted in suitable brackets attached to the rear of said reflector shell and within the bracket 25. As a means for positively adjusting the lamp to the focal length of the lens 22, a screw 31 is secured to the bracket 25 and extends therefrom to have threaded engagement with a bracket fixed to the lamp. It will be noted that this adjustment may be operated conveniently from the rear and that there is no interference with the reflecting properties of the reflector.

A housing 32 is mounted-on the standard 11 and over the pivotal construction in order to protect the same from the deteriorating effect of the elements and also in order to improve the general appearance of the device.

The standard 11 is provided with a base portion 33 which is adapted to fit over the container 12 and be fixed thereto by means of bolts 34 engaging slots 35 in said base portion and extending therethrough to be threaded in said container.

The container 12 is provided with lugs 36 having recesses 37 therein and adapted to support a suspension rod 38 havi a de-- pressed portion 39 located preferab y centrally thereof. An electrical switch 40 is perpendicularly suspended in the container y means of a hook 41 secured to the switch and extending therefrom to engage the depressed portion 39 of the sus ension rod 38. The switch 40 is shown as eing operated and controlled by means of the batteries 42, although it is to be understood that any source of electrical supply may be employed.

The electrical switch 40 is preferably of the tiltable fluid contact-making and breaking type and the device, as herein illus. ated, is for the purpose of periodically lighting the lamp 31 in the si a1 head 10. However, it is not believed toll: necessary to describe the mechanism andoperation of the specific structure shown herein as it is fully described in a copending application, Serial Number 142,012, filed October 16, 1926, of which this ap lication is a division.

s a result of this invention, anew and novel construction is provided for a signal device. The characters on the signal head are more readily distinguished due in part to the heavy white line adjacent the edge of the perforations and due also to the parabolic contour of the reflecting chamber which evenly distributes the light rays over the entire surface of the face of the signal head. And further, due to the operating mechanism being concealed in the container beneath the ground level, said operating mechanism is readily accessible, is more firmly positioned, is maintained at a more uniform temperature, is less susce tible to injury in the event the post should e knocked down, and the above ground construction is simpler and more artistic.

While a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that the device is not to be limited to that specific structure since vari ous modifications may be ap arent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and therefore, the same is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim and the prior art.

I claim:

In a signal device, a support, a reflector mounted on said support, a glass disc supported in said reflector, a face plate havin perforated characters thereon and a contra openin therein and mounted on the front of said re ector, a lensmounted in said disc and projecting through said central opening, and illuminating means in said reflector, said reflector being of a substantially parabolic cross-section whereby the ra s of light are evenly distributed over sai face plate to illuminate said characters.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM G. KEITH. 

